One possible solution was presented by Karel Borovec, Director of the Energy Research Centre at CEET, VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, at the 17th International Conference on Mercury as a Global Pollutant (ICMGP 2026) in Hyderabad, India.
The conference focused on the issue of mercury in the environment and the possibilities of reducing its negative impact on human health and nature, also in connection with the goals of the Minamata Convention.
The presented technology utilizes the dosing of reagents into the circulation system of wet flue gas desulphurisation. Its efficiency has been verified during tests in industrial plants in the Czech Republic. Researchers from the Energy Research Centre at CEET collaborated on its development and testing with Zbyszek Szeliga from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at VŠB-TUO, and Lukáš Pilař from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at CTU in Prague.
"During the industrial tests, we achieved a mercury capture rate of approximately 80 to 90%. The advantage lies in the ability to dose the reagent into the existing desulphurisation system, thereby limiting the need for additional technological equipment. This solution can thus contribute to the effective reduction of emissions at low investment and operational costs," stated Karel Borovec.
The technology was verified in selected operations of energy companies in the Czech Republic, including CEZ Group, Veolia CZ, and the 7en Group. The test results provide a foundation for its further development and potential application abroad.
"India is of great interest to us due to its extensive use of coal in the energy sector. I believe that our experience from industrial operations can serve as a solid foundation for further professional cooperation and for exploring opportunities to apply this technology," added Karel Borovec.